Process for the preparation of lactones or epoxides

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a process for the oxidation, in an inert solvent, of a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond or of a non-conjugated cyclic ketones into the corresponding epoxides, respectively lactone, using H 2 O 2  as oxidant, a content in water of the reaction medium below 15% w/w and, as sole catalyst, an alkaline or alkaline earth salt or complex.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International application PCT/IB2004/000595 filed Mar. 1, 2004, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of organic synthesis. More particularly it provides a new process for the oxidation of a substrate containing a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond or a non-conjugated cyclic ketone into the corresponding epoxide, respectively lactone, using H₂O₂ as oxidant.

BACKGROUND

The so-called Baeyer-Villiger oxidation or the epoxidation of olefins is a type of reaction well documented in the prior art. Amongst the different primary oxidants which may be used in these two type of reactions, the most attractive is H₂O₂. However, when H₂O₂ is used, it is necessary to add a catalyst capable of generating an active species.

The catalysts used in the processes reported in the prior art, and which use H₂O₂ as oxidant, are either a heavy-metal derivative, e.g. a salt, complex, silicate or oxide, or a percarboxylic acid derivative, or a precursor of said acid derivative such as a mixture of a nitrile, carboxylic acid or carboxylic anhydride or chloride with H₂O₂. By the expression “heavy-metal” we mean here metals other than the alkaline or alkaline earth metals.

As example of such known processes, one may cite the one described by S. Ueno et al. in Chem. Commun., 1998, 295, wherein olefins are epoxidized in the presence of H₂O₂, hydrotalcite (Mg₁₀Al₁₂(OH)₂₄CO₃) and benzonitrile. Or alternatively, one can cite A. M. d'A. Rocha Gonsalves et al. in J. Chem. Research., 1991, 208, wherein olefins are epoxidized by using a buffered solution of a percarboxylic derivative. More recently, M. C. A. van Vliet et al. in Green Chemistry, 2001, 243 described an epoxidation process using alumina as catalyst.

The disadvantage of such prior art processes resides in the fact that, at the end of the reaction, an important work-up procedure is required to eliminate said catalysts which are frequently toxic and pollutant. The final result of such work-up is the formation of important amounts of waste materials which may represent a potential threat for the environment. Furthermore, said work-up may result in the opening, i.e. degradation, of important amounts of the desired lactone or epoxide with the result of a loss of efficiency in the overall process.

There is therefore a need to develop industrial processes for performing Baeyer-Villiger reactions, as well as epoxidations of olefins, which are more environment friendly, e.g. of the so-called “green-chemistry” type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new process for the oxidation of a substrate containing a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond or a non-conjugated cyclic ketone into the corresponding epoxide, respectively lactone, using H₂O₂ as oxidant, a content in water of the reaction medium below 15% w/w and, as sole catalyst, an alkaline or alkaline earth salt or complex or a mixture of said salts or complexes. The invention also relate to an oxidizing agent consisting of an inert organic solvent, an appropriate amount of H₂O₂, a catalytic system and less than 15% w/w of water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order to solve the problems aforementioned, the present invention provides a new process involving soft conditions and aimed at the oxidation of a substrate containing:

-   i) a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond; or -   ii) a non-conjugated cyclic ketone,     into the corresponding epoxide or lactone, said process being     carried out in an inert solvent using H₂O₂ as oxidant and in the     presence of a catalytic system,     said process being characterized in that the content in water of the     reaction medium is below 15% w/w and the catalytic system consists     of a compound selected from the group consisting of the alkaline and     alkaline earth metal salts or complexes and mixtures of said salts     or complexes.

Thus, the invention's process presents the advantage that the addition of the percarboxylic acid derivatives or precursor, or of heavy metal derivatives, to the reaction medium, for example as co-reactant or co-catalyst, is avoided.

By the expression “percarboxylic acid derivative” we mean here any compound comprising a functional group of formula

wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or any group containing a carbon or oxygen atom. Furthermore, by the expression “heavy-metal metal derivatives” we mean here any compound containing a metal which is not an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal, that includes, for example, transition metal, aluminum, boron and lanthanide complexes and oxides.

Indeed, we have now surprisingly discovered that, under the appropriate experimental conditions, meaning a content in water of the reaction medium below 15% w/w, an alkaline or alkaline earth derivative is able to promote the oxidation by H₂O₂ of a substrate which would otherwise have been inert.

By the expression “non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond” we mean here an olefin wherein the C═C function is not part of an aromatic system or is not conjugated with a carbon-oxygen double bond.

Similarly, by the expression “non conjugated cyclic ketone” we mean here a C═O functional group, in which the carbon atom is part of a cyclic hydrocarbon moiety, and which is not conjugated with a carbon-carbon double bond or a carbon-heteroatom double bond. It is noteworthy that α,β-unsaturated carbonyl or enone groups do not react if used as substrates in the invention's process, contrary to the chemistry observed first by by E. Weitz, (see for example H.O. House et al., in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1958, 80, 2428)

From now on, the substrate containing a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond or a non-conjugated cyclic ketone, will be referred as “substrate”

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a compound of formula (I) and a compound of formula (II)

wherein the R¹ group represents a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; the R² groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; two of said R² groups or a R² group and the R¹ group are optionally bonded together to form a non-aromatic C₅ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricyclo derivative, optionally substituted; the index m represents an integer from 1 to 10; the R³ groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; at least two of said R³ groups are optionally bonded together to form a C₅ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricyclo derivative, optionally substituted; the X groups represent each a R³C═CR³ or a C(R³)₂ group; and said R¹, R², R³ groups and the possible rings formed by said groups may optionally contain up to five functional groups selected from the group consisting of a carbonyl, a carboxyl and an ether.

Possible substituents of said R¹, R² and R³ groups and of the possible rings formed by said groups include C₁ to C₆ alkyl or alkenyl groups, OR⁴ groups, carbonyl groups, ester moieties of formula COOR⁵, acetylenic moieties of formula C≡CR⁴, halogen atoms, C₂ epoxides and nitro groups, R⁴ representing a hydrogen atom or a C₁ to C₆ saturated or unsaturated group, and R⁵ representing a C₁ to C₆ saturated or unsaturated group.

By the expression “saturated or unsaturated”, hydrocarbon group or ring, we mean here a group which, for example, is an aromatic, alkylaromatic, alkyl, alkenyl, alkadienyl or alkatrienyl derivative.

When a substrate of formula (I) or (II) is employed in a process according to the invention, then the corresponding epoxides or lactones which is produced, is of the formula

wherein m, X, R¹, R² and R³ have the meaning indicated in the formulae (I) and (II).

According to a particular mode of realization of the first embodiment of the invention, the invention's process is particularly interesting for the oxidation of a substrate of formula (I) or (II) wherein the R¹ group represents a linear, branched or cyclic C¹ to C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted;

the R² groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; two of said R² groups or a R² group and the R¹ group are optionally bonded together to form a non-aromatic C₅ to C₁₄ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricyclo derivative, optionally substituted; the index m represents an integer from 1 to 4; the R³ groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; at least two of said R³ groups are optionally bonded together to form a C₅ to C₁₄ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricyclo derivative, optionally substituted; the X groups represent each a R³C≡CR³or a C(R³)₂ group; and said R¹, R², R³ groups and the possible rings formed by said groups may optionally contain up to five functional groups selected from the group consisting of a carbonyl, a carboxyl and an ether.

It is understood that, according to the general definition of the substrate, in the above-mentioned modes of realization the functional groups which may be present in said R¹ to R³ groups are not conjugated with the ethylenic bond or the ketone to be oxidized.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the substrate is a triglycerid oil of formula

wherein the R⁶ groups represent each a linear or branched C₂ to C₂₀ alkenyl, alkadienyl or alkatrienyl group. Preferably, the R⁶ groups represent each a linear or branched C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkenyl, alkadienyl or alkatrienyl group.

According to a further mode of realization of the invention's embodiments, useful substrates are those which are susceptible of providing epoxides or lactones which are useful intermediates or end products in the field of perfumery, flavors, food, agrochemical, pharmaceutical or polymer industry. As non limiting examples of the substrates which can be used in said embodiment, one can cite a compound selected from the group consisting of α- and β-pinene, isoamylene, polymers of butadienes, styrenes, unsaturated vegetable or animal oils such as soybean, sunflower, linseed or colza oil, C₆ to C₁₈ linear or branched monosubstituted olefins, cyclopentanone or cyclohexanone optionally substituted with one or two linear or branched C₁ to C₉ alkyl or alkenyl groups, C₁₁ to C₁₆ bi or tricyclo derivatives of octahydronaphthalene such as 9-ethylidene-4-methyl-tricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7)]undec-4-ene, 4-methyl-tricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7)]undec-4-ene or 4,7,11,11-tetramethyl-tricyclo 5.4.0.0(1,3)]undec-4-ene and their optical active isomers, and C₆ to C₁₆ mono-, bi- or tri-cycloalkene derivatives such as cyclooctene, cyclododecene, cyclododecatriene, trimethyl cyclododecatriene, and 4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene-tricyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene, cedrene and their optical active isomers.

As mentioned above, the invention's process is carried out in the presence of an inert solvent. By the expression “inert solvent” we mean here a solvent which is not oxidized by H₂O₂, and does not react with the compounds of formula (I) or (II) under the reaction conditions.

In general, any solvent which is inert under the experimental conditions and is able to solubilize the substrate and H₂O₂ is particularly appreciated. In a particular embodiment of the invention, such a solvent is advantageously selected from the group consisting of aromatics, ethers, esters, acyclic ketones, alcohols, glycols, amides, phosphates, halogenated hydrocarbons and the mixture of said solvents. Examples of such solvents are halogenated benzenes or toluenes, C₄ to C₁₀ ethers, C₄ to C₈ esters, C₄ to C₇ acyclic ketones, C₁ to C₆ primary, secondary or tertiary alcohols, ethylene or propylene glycols as well as the oligomers of ethylene or propylene oxide, C₄ to C₆ amides, C₆ to C₂₄ phosphates and methane derivatives containing at least two halogen atoms. As particularly suitable solvents, one can cite chlorobenzene, tert-amyl alcohol, tert-butyl methyl ether, tert-amyl methyl ether, dioxane, ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate, n-propyl acetate, n-propyl formate, butyl formate, isopropyl acetate, butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate.

Furthermore, the inert solvent is advantageously employed in its anhydrous form, e.g. containing less than 5% of water, preferably less than 1%, with respect to the weight of the solvent.

The quantity of solvent used in the invention's process is not really critical, provided that there is enough of it to dilute the reactants or, for example, to allow an efficient elimination or dilution of the water present in the reaction medium. For instance, as non-limiting examples, one may cite quantities ranging between 10% and 80% of the weight of the reaction medium, preferably ranging between 30% and 70%.

Another mandatory element of the invention's process is the catalytic system. By the expression “catalytic system” we mean here the whole set of compounds which are added in the reaction medium to achieve the activation of H₂O₂, enabling thus the oxidation of the substrate.

Examples of compounds which may constitute the catalytic system are selected from the group consisting of:

-   A) the compounds of formula MX, M′X₂, R⁷COOM, (R⁷COO)₂M′, M₂CO₃,     MHCO₃, M′CO₃, MOOH, M₂O₂, M′O₂, MOR⁷ and M′(OR⁷)₂, M representing an     alkaline metal, M′ representing an alkaline earth metal, X     representing a halogen atom and R⁷ representing a hydrogen atom or a     linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₁₅ alkyl or aromatic group     optionally halogenated; -   B) the fully deprotonated polycarboxylates of M or M′, such as a Na     polyacrylates; -   C) the alkaline or alkaline earth salts or complexes comprising a     ligand selected from the group consisting of C₅ to C₂₀ β-dialdimine,     β-diketimine, β-diketones or β-ketoesters and C₅ to C₂₀ crown     ethers, cryptands, podands or Schiff base; and -   D) mixtures of the compounds cited in A), B) and C).

The invention's processes wherein the catalytic system is selected from the group consisting of:

-   E) the compounds of formula R⁸COOM, (R⁸COO)₂M′, M₂CO₃, MHCO₃, M′CO₃,     M₂O₂, M′O₂, MOR⁸ and M′(OR⁸)₂, M representing Li, Na or K, M′     representing Mg or Ca, and R⁸ representing a hydrogen atom or a     linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; -   F) the alkaline salts or complexes of formula ML, wherein L is a C₅     to C₁₅ β-diketonate or deprotonated β-ketoester; and -   G) mixtures of the compounds cited in E) and F);     have proved to be particularly attractive and convenient.

Examples of R⁸COO⁻, ⁻OR⁸, β-diketonate and deprotonated β-ketoesters are the acetate, propionate, 2-ethyl-hexanoate, naphthenate, benzoate, 2,4-dichlorobenzoate, propylate, ethylate, tert-pentylate, [(CH₃)₃CCOCHCOC(CH₃)₃]⁻, [F₃CCOCHCOCF₃]⁻, [C₆H₅COCHCOCH₃]⁻, [CH₃COCHCOCH₃]⁻ and [CH₃COCHCOOCH₂CH₂OCH₃]⁻.

According to a more particular embodiment of the invention, the Li, Na or K salts or complexes cited above give particularly interesting results, especially Li and Na. Similarly, according to a more particular embodiment of the invention, the carbonate, hydrogeno carbonate, acetate, propylate, or C₅ to C₁₅ β-diketonates salts or complexes cited above are particularly useful.

The quantity of catalyst added to the reaction mixture may oscillate in a relatively large range of values. For instance, as non-limiting examples, one may cite a molar ratio of catalyst per substrate ranging between 10⁻⁵ to 0.9, more preferably between 0.001 and 0.2, or even between 0.005 and 0.1.

The oxidizing agent of the invention is H₂O₂. For the purposes of the invention it can be used an aqueous solution of H₂O₂, such as 50-70% by weight aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. However, as it can be understood from what is described above and below, according to a particular embodiment of the invention it is more advantageous to use a solution of H₂O₂ in an organic solvent, as this will contribute to maintain the water contents of the reaction medium as low as possible. Of particular interest are the anhydrous solutions of H₂O₂ in an organic solvent, such as a C₄-C₆ ester or ether, tertio-amyl alcohol or chlorobenzene. By the expression “anhydrous solutions” it is meant here a solution containing less than 5% water, preferably less than 1%. Said solutions can be obtained according to the method described in EP 98427.

Useful quantities of H₂O₂, added to the reaction mixture, may be comprised within a relatively large range of values. For instance, as non-limiting examples, one may cite a molar ratio of H₂O₂ per function to be oxidized in the substrate of formula (II) ranging between 0.5 to 2, more preferably between 0.9 and 1.2.

Another characteristic of the invention's process is the presence, in the reaction medium, of less than 15% w/w of water. If the amount of water is above said limit, the reaction either does not work at all or produce large amounts of by-products. In fact the lower is the water content of the reaction medium the better it is. Therefore according to a particular embodiment of the invention it is preferred to have a content in water of the reaction medium below 5% w/w, or even less than 1% w/w.

To maintain the water contents into such low limits it is possible, for example, to either use a highly concentrated water solution of hydrogen peroxide and an adequate amount of anhydrous solvent, or use an anhydrous solution of H₂O₂ in an organic solvent. Otherwise it is also possible to remove continuously the water, introduced and formed during the process, from the reaction medium. This can be achieved by any means known to a person skilled in the art, for example by an azeotropic distillation.

The temperature at which the process of the invention can be carried out is comprised between 5° C. and the refluxing temperature of the solvent. Preferably, the temperature is in the range of between 60° C. and 140° C. Of course, a person skilled in the art is also able to select the preferred temperature as a function of the melting and boiling point of the starting and final products as well as of the solvent.

According to the simplest mode of realization of the invention, the latter consists of a process for the oxidation of a substrate containing a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond or a non-conjugated cyclic ketone into the corresponding epoxide, respectively lactone, by means of an oxidizing agent consisting of an inert organic solvent, an appropriate amount of H₂O₂, a catalytic system and less than 15% w/w of water, percentage being relative to the total weight of the oxidizing agent.

Said oxidizing agent is also an object of the present invention. The substrates, as well as the catalytic system, the solvent and H₂O₂ are as defined above.

The proportions in which the various ingredients of the oxidizing agent may be admixed together may vary in the following ranges: a) between 2% to 20%, preferably 10% to 15%, for the H₂O₂, b) between 0.001% to 10%, preferably 0.1% to 2%, for the catalyst, c) less than 15% of water, and the solvent constitute the balance of the mixture; percentages above being in respect to the total weight of the oxidizing agent.

Preferably, the water content of said oxidizing agent is less than 5% or even 3%.

EXAMPLES

The invention will now be described in further detail by way of the following examples, which are further illustrative of the present invention embodiments, and further demonstrate the advantages of the invention. In said examples the abbreviations have the usual meaning in the art, the temperatures are indicated in degrees centigrade (° C.).

Example 1 Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Pentyl Cyclopentanone

Procedure A):

In a three-necked 250 ml flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and a reflux condenser were introduced 31 g of 2-pentyl cyclopentanone (0.2 mole), 31 g of anhydrous ethyl propionate, and 0.048 g (1 mol %) of anhydrous lithium hydroxide. The mixture was brought to reflux at ca. 100° C. Then 57.5 g (0.22 mole) of an anhydrous 13% w/w hydrogen peroxide solution in ethyl propionate, obtained from extraction of a 70% aqueous H₂O₂ solution by ethyl propionate, were slowly added over 4 h in the reactor while maintaining the reflux 2 h after the end of the introduction. The reaction mixture was then washed with 10% water to remove the non converted H₂0₂, and finally distilled to recover the solvent.

GC analysis of the residue revealed the presence of 18% non converted 2-pentyl cyclopentanone (82% conversion), 73% of lactones and 19% of by-products.

Procedure B):

The reaction was carried out as in Procedure A), but using 0.22 mol of H₂0₂ in the form of 70% weight aqueous solution.

The conversion was 53%, with 61% selectivity for the lactones.

Procedure C):

In a three-necked 250 ml flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and a Dean-Starck reflux condenser were introduced 61.6 g of 2-pentyl cyclopentanone (0.4 mole), 100 g of anhydrous ethyl propionate solvent, and 0.1 g (1 mol %) of anhydrous lithium hydroxide and the mixture was brought to reflux at ca. 110° C. Then 21.5 g (0.44 mole) of 70% w/w aqueous H₂O₂ solution were added over 4 h in the reactor and under conditions such as incipient and formed water are removed as a 90:10 ethyl propionate/water azeotropic mixture, ethyl propionate being resent to the reactor. The reaction mixture was then maintained to reflux for two hours, cooled to 30° C., then washed with 10% water to remove the non converted H₂O₂, and finally distilled to recover the solvent.

GC analysis of the residue bulb-to-bulb distilled indicated the presence of 0.5% non converted 2-pentyl cyclopentanone (99.5% conversion) and 96% of lactones.

Example 2 Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Pentyl Cyclopentanone Using Various Catalysts

This example illustrates the influence of the catalyst used in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 2-pentyl cyclopentanone to lactones by H₂O₂.

The reaction was carried out in the presence of 1 mol % catalyst in ethyl propionate as solvent at 110° C. in the same conditions as those reported in Example 1, Procedure C).

The results are reported in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using various catalysts Experiment Catalyst Yield of lactones 1 LiOH 70% 2 BaCO₃ 28% 3 Mg(2-ethyl hexanoate)₂ 52% 4 CaCO₃ 34% 5 Na(polyacrylate) 77% 6 LiBr 47% 7 Na(2-ethyl-hexanoate) 75% 8 Na(t-pentoxyde) 70% 9 NaHCO₃ 72% 10 CF₃CO₂Na 52% 11 Li₂CO₃ 86% 12 LiOAc 83% 13 KOAc 36% 14 Na₂O₂ 73% 15 Li(acac) 70% Yields are calculated in respect of the total amount of substrate used.

When the reaction was carried out in the presence of 1 mol % catalyst in tert-amyl alcohol as solvent at reflux in the same conditions as those reported in Example 1, Procedure C), similar results, reported in Table 1a, were obtained.

TABLE 1a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using various catalysts Experiment Catalyst Yield of lactones 1 LiOH 88% 2 NaOH 92% 3 NaHCO₃ 84% Yields are calculated in respect of the total amount of substrate used.

Example 3 Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Pentyl Cyclopentanone Using Various Solvents

This example illustrates the influence of the solvent used in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 2-pentyl cyclopentanone to lactones by 70% w/w aqueous H₂O₂ solution at 110° C. and in the presence of 1 mol % lithium acetate.

The reaction was carried out under the same conditions as those described in Example 1, Procedure C). The results are reported in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using various solvent Experiment Solvent Yield of lactones 1 Ethyl propionate 72% 2 Isopropyl acetate 51% 3 Chlorobenzene 59% 4 Methyl tert amyl ether 28% 5 Dioxane 30% Yields are calculated in respect of the total amount of substrate used.

Example 4 Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Various Non-Conjugated Cyclic Ketones

This example illustrates the oxidation of various ketones by 70% w/w aqueous H₂O₂ solution in ethyl propionate as solvent at 110° C. in the presence of 1 mol % lithium acetate. The reaction was carried out under the same conditions as those disclosed in Example 1, Procedure C). The results are reported in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of various substrates Yield of Experiment Substrate Main product lactones 1

91% 1

35% Yields are calculated in respect of the total amount of substrate used.

Example 5 Epoxidation of 1,5,9-cis,trans,trans-cyclododecatriene (CDT)

In a three-necked 250 ml flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer and a Dean-Starck reflux condenser were introduced 64.8 g of CDT (0.4 mole), 100 g of anhydrous ethyl propionate solvent, and 1 mol % of anhydrous lithium bis(pivaloyl)methane [Li(bpm)]. The mixture was brought to reflux at ca. 110° C. and 20 g (0.4 mole) of 70% w/w aqueous H₂O₂ were added slowly over 4 h in the reactor. The incipient and formed water were removed as a 90:10 ethyl propionate, water azeotropic mixture, ethyl propionate being resent to the reactor. After keeping the reaction mixture under reflux at 110° C., the reactor content was then cooled, and washed with 10% water to remove the non-converted H₂O₂, and finally distilled to recover the solvent.

Bulb-to-bulb distillation of the residue gave a mixture consisting of 31% CDT, 63% epoxycyclododecadiene (CDDO) and 6% by-products.

Example 6 Epoxidation of CDT Using Various Catalyst

This example illustrates the influence of the catalyst used in the epoxidation of CDT by 70% w/w aqueous H₂O₂ in ethyl propionate as solvent at 110° C. The reaction was carried out in the presence of 1 mol % catalyst under the same conditions as those described in Example 5. The results are reported in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Epoxidation using various catalysts Experiment Catalyst Yield of CDDO 1 Li₂CO₃ 50% 2 Li(hfacac) 49% 3 LiOH 51% 4 LiOAc 43% 5 Li(benzoylacetone) 34% 6 Li(acac) 23% 7 Na(bpm) 25% 8 Li(dimedone) 25% 9 Li(MeOEtAcac) 20% Yields are calculated in respect of the total amount of substrate used. Bmp = bis(pivaloyl)methane/ hfacac = hexafluoroacetylacetone/ MeOEtAcac = 2-methoxyethyl acetoacetate/ acac = acetylacetonate.

Example 7 Epoxidation of CDT Using Various Solvents

This example illustrates the influence of the solvent used in the epoxidation of CDT by 70% w/w aqueous H₂O₂ at 110° C. in the presence of 1 mol % LiOAc under the same conditions as those described in Example 5. The results are reported in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Epoxidation using various solvents Experiment Solvents Yield of CDDO 1 Tert-amyl alcohol 39% 2 Butyl acetate 38% 3 Chlorobenzene 28% 4 Isopropyl acetate 23% 5 Dibutyl ether 22% Yields are calculated in respect of the total amount of substrate used.

Example 8 Epoxidation of Various Substrates

The following examples illustrate the epoxidation of various alkenes by 70% w/w aqueous H₂O₂ in ethyl propionate as solvent at 110° C. in the presence of 1 mol % lithium acetate. The reaction was carried out under the same conditions as those described in Example 5. The results are reported in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Epoxidation of various substrates Experiment Substrate Main product yield 1

56 2

66 3

75 4

83 5

43 Yields are calculated in respect of the total amount of substrate used. 

1. A process for the oxidation of a substrate containing: i) a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond; or ii) a non-conjugated cyclic ketone, into the corresponding epoxide or lactone, said process being carried out in an inert solvent using H₂O₂ as oxidant and in the presence of a catalytic system, said process being characterized in that the content in water of the reaction medium is below 15% w/w and the catalytic system consists of a compound selected from the group consisting of the alkaline and alkaline earth metal salts or complexes and mixtures of said salts or complexes; wherein the oxidant is not a percarboxylic acid derivative nor does it form a percarboxylic acid or percarboxylic acid derivative during the oxidation.
 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of a compound of formula (I) and a compound of formula (II)

wherein the R¹ group represents a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; the R² groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; two of said R² groups or a R² group and the R¹ group are optionally bonded together to form a non-aromatic C₅ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricyclo derivative, optionally substituted; the index m represents an integer from 1 to 10; the R³ groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; at least two of said R³ groups are optionally bonded together to form a C₅ to C₂₀ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricyclo derivative, optionally substituted; the X groups represent each a R³C═CR³ or a C(R³)₂ group; and said R¹, R², R³ groups and the possible rings formed by said groups may optionally contain up to five functional groups selected from the group consisting of a carbonyl, a carboxyl and an ether.
 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the R¹ group represents a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; the R² groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; two of the R² groups or a R² group and the R¹ group are optionally bonded together to form a non-aromatic C₅ to C₁₄ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricyclo derivative, optionally substituted; the index m represents an integer from 1 to 4; the R³ groups represent each a radical selected in the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, optionally substituted; at least two of said R³ groups are optionally bonded together to form a C₅ to C₁₄ saturated or unsaturated ring in the form of a mono-, bi- or tricycle derivative, optionally substituted; the X groups represent each a R³C═CR³ or a C(R³)₂ group; and the R¹, R², R³ groups and the possible rings formed by said groups may optionally contain up to five functional groups selected from the group consisting of a carbonyl, a carboxyl and an ether.
 4. A process according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is a triglycerid oil of formula

wherein the R⁶ groups represent each a linear or branched C₂ to C₂₀ alkenyl, alkadienyl or alkatrienyl group.
 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of α and β pinene, isoamylene, polymers of butadienes, styrenes, unsaturated vegetable or animal oils, C₆ to C₁₈ linear or branched monosubstituted olefins, cyclopentanone or cyclohexanone optionally substituted with one or two linear or branched C₁ to C₉ alkyl or alkenyl groups, C₁₁ to C₁₆ bi or tricyclo derivatives of octahydronaphthalene and C₆ to C₁₆ mono-, bi- or tri-cycloalkene derivatives.
 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of aromatics, ethers, esters, acyclic ketones, alcohols, glycols, amides, phosphates, halogenated hydrocarbons and mixture of said solvents.
 7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of chlorobenzene, tert-amyl alcohol, tert-butyl methyl ether, tert-amyl methyl ether, dioxane, ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate, n-propyl acetate, n-propyl formate, butyl formate, isopropyl acetate, butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate.
 8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic system consist of a compound selected from the group consisting of: A) the compounds of formula MX, M′X₂, R⁷COOM, (R⁷COO)₂M′, M₂CO₃, MHCO₃, M′CO₃, MOOH, M₂O₂, M′O₂, MOR⁷ and M′(OR⁷)₂, M representing an alkaline metal, M′ representing an alkaline earth metal, X representing a halogen atom and R⁷ representing a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₁₅ alkyl or aromatic group optionally halogenated; B) the fully deprotonated polycarboxylates of M or M′, such as a Na polyacrylates; C) the alkaline or alkaline earth salts or complexes comprising a ligand selected from the group consisting of C₅ to C₂₀ β-dialdimine, β-diketimine, β-diketones or β-ketoesters and C₅ to C₂₀ crown ethers, cryptands, podands or Schiff base; and D) mixtures of the compounds cited in A), B) and C).
 9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic system consists of a compound selected from the group consisting of: E) the compounds of formula R⁸COOM, (R⁸COO)₂M′, M₂CO₃, MHCO₃, M′CO₃, M₂O₂, M′O₂, MOR⁸ and M′(OR⁸)₂, M representing Li, Na or K, M′ representing Mg or Ca, and R⁸ representing a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched or cyclic C₁ to C₈ alkyl group; F) the alkaline salts or complexes of formula ML, wherein L is a C₅ to C₁₅ β-diketonate or deprotonated β-ketoester; and G) mixtures of the compounds cited in E) and F).
 10. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic system consists of a compound selected from the group consisting of: E) the compounds of formula R⁸COOM, (R⁸COO)₂M′, MOR⁸ and M′(OR⁸)₂, M representing Li, Na or K, M′ representing Mg or Ca, and R⁸COO⁻ are ⁻OR⁸, are acetate, propionate, 2-ethyl-hexanoate, naphthenate, benzoate, 2,4-dichlorobenzoate, propylate, ethylate, tert-pentylate; F) the alkaline salts or complexes of formula ML, wherein L is [(CH₃)₃CCOCHCOC(CH₃)₃]⁻, [F₃CCOCHCOCF₃]⁻, [C₆H₅COCHCOCH₃]⁻, [CH₃COCHCOCH₃]⁻ and [CH₃COCHCOOCH₂CH₂OCH₃]⁻; and G) mixtures of the compounds cited in E) and F).
 11. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalytic system consists of a compound selected from the group consisting of a carbonate, hydrogeno carbonate, acetate, propylate, or C₅ to C₁₅ β-diketonates salts or complexes.
 12. A process according to claim 1, wherein the content in water of the reaction medium is below 5% w/w.
 13. A process according to claim 1, wherein the water is continuously removed from the reaction medium.
 14. A process for the oxidation of a substrate containing a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond or a non-conjugated cyclic ketone into the corresponding epoxide, respectively lactone, by means of an oxidizing agent consisting of an inert organic solvent, an appropriate amount of H₂O₂, less than 15% w/w of water, percentage being relative to the total weight of the oxidizing agent, and a catalytic system consisting of a compound selected from the group consisting of the alkaline and alkaline earth metal salts or complexes and mixtures of said salts or complexes, Wherein the oxidant is not a percarboxylic acid derivative nor does it forma percarboxylic acid or percarboxylic acid derivative during the oxidation.
 15. An oxidizing agent for use in a process for the oxidation of a substrate according to claim 1, the oxidizing agent consisting of an inert organic solvent, an appropriate amount of H₂O₂, less than 15% w/w of water, percentage being relative to the total weight of the oxidizing agent, and a catalytic system consisting of a compound selected from the group consisting of the alkaline and alkaline earth metal salts or complexes and mixtures of said salts or complexes Wherein the oxidant is not a percarboxylic acid derivative.
 16. A process for the oxidation of a substrate containing: i) a non-aromatic or non-enonic ethylenic bond; or ii) a non-conjugated cyclic ketone, into the corresponding epoxide or lactone, said process being carried out in an inert solvent using H₂O₂ as oxidant and in the presence of a catalytic system, said process being characterized in that the content in water of the reaction medium is below 15% w/w and the catalytic system consists of a compound selected from the group consisting of the alkaline and alkaline earth metal salts or complexes and mixtures of said salts or complexes; wherein: (A) the substrate is a triglyceride oil of formula

wherein the R⁶ groups represent each a linear or branched C₂ to C₂₀ alkenyl, alkadienyl or alkatrienyl group; or (B) the substrate is selected from the group consisting of α and β pinene, isoamylene, polymers of butadienes, styrenes, unsaturated vegetable or animal oils, C₆ to C₁₈ linear or branched monosubstituted olefins, cyclopentanone or cyclohexanone optionally substituted with one or two linear or branched C₁ to C₉ alkyl or alkenyl groups, C₁₁ to C₁₆ bi or tricyclo derivatives of octahydronaphthalene and C₆ to C₁₆ mono-, bi- or tri-cycloalkene derivatives; (C) the solvent is selected from the group consisting of chlorobenzene, tert-amyl alcohol, tert-butyl methyl ether, tert-amyl methyl ether, dioxane, ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate, n-propyl acetate, n-propyl formate, butyl formate, isopropyl acetate, butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate; or (D) the catalytic system consists of a compound selected from the group consisting of: a) the compounds of formula R⁸COOM, (R⁸COO)₂M′, MOR⁸ and M′(OR⁸)₂, M representing Li, Na or K, M′ representing Mg or Ca, and R⁸COO⁻ are ⁻OR⁸, are acetate, propionate, 2-ethyl-hexanoate, naphthenate, benzoate, 2,4-dichlorobenzoate, propylate, ethylate, tert-pentylate; b) the alkaline salts or complexes of formula ML, wherein L is [(CH₃)₃CCOCHCOC(CH₃)₃]⁻, [F₃CCOCHCOCF₃]⁻, [C₆H₅COCHCOCH₃]⁻, [CH₃COCHCOCH₃]⁻ and [CH₃COCHCOOCH₂CH₂OCH₃]⁻; and c) mixtures of the compounds cited in a) and b); or (B) water is continuously removed from the reaction medium. 